Sociodemographic and Psychobehavioral Characteristics of US College Students Who Abstain From Alcohol
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The authors examined the sociodemographics and psychobehavioral characteristics of undergraduate US college students who abstain from alcohol. PARTICIPANTS: The respondents were 5,210 undergraduates from 32 colleges and universities. METHODS: A survey was mailed to 300 randomly selected students per institution (spring 2000 or 2001). The response rate was 56.2%. RESULTS: Overall, 20.5% of the students abstained. Predictors of abstention included the student's own negative attitude toward alcohol use; perception of friends' alcohol attitudes; male gender; being under age 21; abstaining in high school; non-Greek member or pledge; nonathlete; nonsmoker; non-marijuana user; participant in a religious group; working either 0 or 10+ hours per week for salary; having a mother who abstains; and having a close friend who abstains. CONCLUSION: Additional research on abstainers is warranted. Campus-based prevention programs should be grounded in a better understanding of how motives not to drink are developed and sustained in high school and college.
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The more time students spent involved in either fraternity/sororities or other social clubs, the less likely they were to abstain from alcohol.
“The researchers found the more time students spent involved in either fraternity/sororities or other social clubs, the less likely they were to abstain.”
From The Influence of Fraternity and Sorority Involvement: A Critical Analysis of Research (1996–2013) (2014) · cites this paper as Huang, DeJong, Towvim, and Schneider (2009)
Students who did not participate in fraternity/sorority or social club activities were almost six times as likely to abstain as those who spent 6+ hours per week in such activities (OR = 5.77); students who spent one to five hours per week were 5.5 times as likely to abstain than those who spent 6+ hours per week (OR = 5.50).
“Specifically, students who did not participate in fraternity/sorority or social club activities were almost six times as likely to abstain as those who spent 6+ hours per week in such activities (OR = 5.77); students who spent one to five hours per week were 5.5 times as likely to abstain than those who spent 6+ hours per week (OR = 5.50).”
From The Influence of Fraternity and Sorority Involvement: A Critical Analysis of Research (1996–2013) (2014) · cites this paper as Huang et al. (2009)
Huang et al. (2009) showed the more involved students were in any type of social organization, the less likely they were to abstain from alcohol use.
“Analogous with previous studies about membership status, Huang et al. (2009) showed the more involved students were in any type of social organization, the less likely they were to abstain from alcohol use.”
From The Influence of Fraternity and Sorority Involvement: A Critical Analysis of Research (1996–2013) (2014) · cites this paper as Huang et al. (2009)
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References 32 · Cited by 26
- Authors
- Huang, J.-H., DeJong, W., Towvim, L. G., & Schneider, S. K.
- Affiliations
- National Taiwan University (TW)
- Boston University (US)
- Education Development Center (US)
- Venue
- Journal of American College Health
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2009-01
- Volume
- 57
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 395-410
- ISSN
- 0164-4300 (ISSN-L)
- 0744-8481
- 1940-3208
- OpenAlex
- W2060347351
- Cited by
- 26
- References
- 32
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 1.23
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of American College Health (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (R01AA012471, R01 AA 12471)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Alcohol Consumption and Health Effects
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health and Lifestyle Studies
- Keywords
- alcohol abstinence, university students, predictors of abstinence, attitudes toward alcohol, peer influence, gender differences, age, religious affiliation, parental influence, substance use prevention
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Alcohol Drinking, Attitude to Health, Female, Humans, Male, Social Environment, Students, United States, Universities, Young Adult
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